About

So what is the event about?

Wellington Cosplay Photo Fest is a multi-day collaborative cosplay photography event designed to bring together cosplayers and photographers of all skill levels for a weekend of photo shoots. Each participant is assigned a number of random pairings to ensure all participants have a minimum number of shoots booked, and to allow newcomers to work with more experienced artists. These assigned shoots are only a minimum – we encourage all participants to organise as many other shoots during the event as they wish to take advantage of the talent gathered in one place for the weekend!

We have a large cosplay community in NZ, and our goal is to include as wide a range of experience levels, costume genres and shooting styles as possible. From beginners to seasoned veterans, anime cosplayers and those dedicated to enormous grimdark armour – everyone is welcome!

How many people will be taking part?

The maximum number of participants is 100, ideally with a 1:2 split of photographers to cosplayers. Each participant will be assigned a minimum number of shoots for the weekend.

These pairings are random and are intended to deliberately mix up skill levels and styles. These random assignments are mandatory, and must take priority over any other shoots booked throughout the event.

Where will the event take place?

The event will be held in Wellington. We will have a central base of operations indoors for participants to mingle and relax between shoots, other amenities (eg backdrops for group use) are yet to be confirmed. There is a list of suggestions for locations around the city, however it will be up to each participant to arrange their own transport to and from their chosen location.

We will also be hosting drinks at a local bar during the event – venue TBC, however please note that this will be an R18 event and this applies to participants AND helpers/assistants.

How many shoots can I do?

As many as you like! The minimum number will be set based on the random assignments for the event however if you wish to shoot more there are no restrictions. We do suggest however that you think carefully about transport, location, logistics and time management in order to ensure that you do not over commit your time and energy.

How do I know someone will want to take my picture?

This is why we have the random assignments! A certain number of shoots will be randomly assigned to each participant and must take priority over other shoots booked throughout the weekend – we aim to assign each photographer 4 shoots and each cosplayer 2 shoots. All participants are of course welcome to organise additional shoots outside these assignments.

We understand that not every participants’ artistic style will appeal to everyone else, however with this system in place we hope to balance personal taste and style with a healthy dose of new experiences and opportunities for every participant. Even if your assignments are not to your personal taste style-wise, we expect these shoots to be conducted with professionalism and the same effort as would be applied to any other shoot.

If you are absolutely unable to work with a particular individual, please let the organisers know – we will take this into account wherever possible. We want people to work outside the box, not force anybody into a situation where they are unsafe or uncomfortable.

Please note that participants who neglect their assigned shoots will not be invited to participate in future events.

Do I have to pay anything to attend the event?

Yes – there is a per head fee to take part and this applies to photographers, cosplayers, and any assistants taking part. This is to cover venue hires, badges, grab-bags (if applicable), and miscellaneous event costs. This is a non profit event, and the organisers are all volunteers.

If you are bringing an assistant to the event, they must be registered and pay their registration fee. This fee covers the items mentioned above, and we also need to keep track of who is attending the event for health and safety reasons – particularly important for contact tracing since the Covid 19 pandemic has hit.

ONCE THE FEE IS PAID IT IS NON-REFUNDABLE – but registration is transferable at the organisers’ discretion. Please notify us in writing if you are unable to attend and have someone who would like to take your place. Note that your replacement will need to be the same category as you – ie, cosplayer/cosplayer or photographer/photographer.

Can I bring a friend?

Not as a model or photographer, unless they have already signed on as such. If you have someone helping with a single shoot and they aren’t taking part in the event beyond this, there is no need to register them as an assistant – however a fee will apply if they are with you all weekend. This goes towards things like event grab-bags, drinks at the afterparty, and general running costs. For example: if you have someone driving you to and from a shoot, they probably don’t need to register. If you have a helper all weekend who is interacting with you and other participants, they need to register.

It is very important that we know if you’re bringing an assistant so we have a correct idea of numbers for venues and logistics, so please register your helper correctly.

Can I shoot people during the event who are not registered to take part?

We’re not the photography police, and we can’t stop you – however we ask that you please focus on the event and its participants during the weekend. This keeps it fair to people who have registered on time and followed due process for the event. It also means that we know exactly who is taking part, and can identify anybody who is not meant to be there.

I don’t live in New Zealand! Can I still take part?

Hell yeah, you can take part! When you complete your registration form please let us know where you’re from, but please note that while we make every effort to give people enough time to make travel arrangements it may be relatively short notice (~3 months or less). This may change if we have a larger than expected number of international applicants though, so please follow our social media feeds for announcements and updates.

I missed registration for the next event! Is there a waitlist?

There is a waitlist – please contact the organisers to be added. Note that this is no guarantee of inclusion, although there are often people who need to drop out of the event we can’t predict when or if this will happen – and it may be last minute!